Definitely my favorite hotel by far, pricier for local prices but you really get what you pay for: a decent breakfast buffet, a swimming pool kids playground adjacent to a gym, rooftop pool, rooftop bar/lounge, rooms with great views, friendly staff, and situated around a lot of restaurants and attractions, including the famous Co Giang st.

We stayed for 5 days before travelling to Nha Trang. The staff went out of their way on several occasions to assist with a lost iPhone, calling the train station and other places we had visited.

We then returned to this hotel without a booking... the offered us early check in in a beautiful room even though we had no booking. Could not say anything negative about the Huong sen. We loved our stay so much, it was the first hotel we returned to after visiting other parts of Vietnam.

Location is good as it brings convenience to wherever we want to go. It's located in the middle of district 1, right beside Ben Thanh Market, walkable distance to all the good local food and restaurants.

Surprisingly, we're also able to change money at the hotel recep! Staffs are helpful and friendly.
Overall, good experience!

Great location - very near Ben Thanh Market and the HCM Fine Arts Museum! Walkable to Pham Ngu Lao, Saigon Centre and Saigon Square as well.

Cozy and clean room.
Friendly staff - especially Johnny, who let us take his motorbike for a trial ride before deciding if we wanted to rent one for the day!
Breakfast - spring rolls were tasty but the breakfast menu could be improved by adding in more options.
Overall, we had a really enjoyable 6 nights stay and would definitely stay here again!

Title says it all, really. This guesthouse is in a great location for both sights and prices. It's on one of the quieter side streets in the backpacker area but the rooms are definitely a notch or two above standard backpacker interiors - decent amenities, spotlessly clean, comfortable, private and secure.

Reception doubles as a travel agency and staff definitely look after you. This is my fifth time to Vietnam and this guesthouse has been my best choice in the backpacker-area so far.

I stayed here alone in July, 2014. My room, spacious and air-conditioned, which is very comfortable to stay in.

The location is convenient as well. Stores and bars are within walking distance. Also, there are computer and printer available on the ground floor. Staff there is friendly and helpful. You can buy tours, rent motorbikes, and get laundry service there. My favorite time of the day is the night, when people sit in front of there houses drinking and chatting. It's a nice experience to enjoy the Vietnamese lifestyle. I highly recommend Thanh Guesthouse.

The room included all the required amenities, such as air conditioner, hot water, Wi-Fi in the room, television, refrigerator, etc.

.. The beds are also very large and comfortable. It is located in an area with many tourists, restaurants, and bars. The room was also spacious, and had a window overlooking the main street. I would stay here again for sure!

Fantastic stay, we checked in at 1 am which wasnt a problem. The hotel is a little odd to find so have a map handy and enjoy walking past tuk tuk, taxi and motorbike drivers asking to take you places.

It was so nice being able to have a short walk across the road and to the hotel. The internet was in fact the easiest to connect, the most secured and by far fastest we had during our five week trip. We stayed for one night to be picked up the next morning to get to the Mekong and this hotel was just perfect. Would certainly stay in again and recommend, has very amusing bed sheets too!

A family-owned place right in the center of the backpacker district. On a side street so a bit hard to find the first time but a local helped us when we showed him a picture of the sign.

The mother and father don't speak much English but their son is great and they're very kind and friendly. The spot is quiet and no noise problems. We were on the fourth floor with two windows, so lots of light. The room has an AC, a fan, hot and cold water, and room to put all our stuff that had accumulated during a month-long trip. This was out last stop before heading home and we really liked the place compared to other hostel/hotel rooms we'd been in along the way.

right in the middle of the backpacker area but surprisingly VERY quiet at night. the quietest hotel we tried in HCMC and we've been here nearly a month trying quite a few.

Staff very friendly and perfect english. Owner is Vietnamese-Canadian and very nice.
Would have stayed here longer if we would've known how good it was. Definitely recommend it. Lots of restaurants nearby, but a little expensive since in the tourist area.
Excellent price for hotel and what you get. VERY clean.

Vy is a very nice young lady, she is so kind, willing to help every guest in her house, you will feel warm welcomed and just like stay at your own home, Vy will provide you lots of infromation about what's worth to visit at Ho chi minh, and her house is so wonderful, i just want to stay there for more time, i will definitaly stayed at Vy's house again next time i come to Vietnam.

thank you Vy , very nice to meet you at HO chi minh:)
bsrgs!
Xiang Xian

I had noticed there was some bad reviews for this property. For this reason I booked only 2 nights in the beginning.

Well, I was so happy that not only did I stay for two weeks, I asked the lovely owner Miss Loi if she had seen the bad reviews. Her response being you can't make everyone happy is exactly correct.
This hotel is a hidden gem!
Friendly staff and anything you require is provided with a smile. If you want to use an elevator or come and go frequently at night BOOK THE DOUBLE BEDROOMS. The studios are in a walk-up 5-story separate building and has a night security guard with s locked gate. (Great for females as they have an excellent outdoor patio/balcony, whereas the double bedrooms do not. ) The property is very private and heaps of good food around. 10 minute walk to Bui Vien).
DO NOT HESITATE TO STAY HERE I THINK THE BAD REVIEWS ARE TO KEEP THE PRICES DOWN AND AVAILABILITY OPEN.)
Thank you to Miss Loi and the wonderful staff this is my new home away from home.

We are a family of three with a teenage son. We stayed in the apartment for three nights during our two weeks travelling across Vietnam.

Mostly we stayed in four stars hotels during this trip but Saigon apartment was the most comfortable accommodation for our family. The staff and management were very helpful. Even though the apartment is located a short taxi ride from the centre, I would see it as a positive factor. After a day in the centre of Ho Chi Minh City you would appreciate the quieter area were the apartment is located. You would have no problem in getting a taxi at any time of the day within a minute or two. The taxi ride to the centre would only cost you a couple of US dollars or less. I would highly recommend this accommodation t anyone.

Friendly staff, they speak english, very comfortable beds, safe in the room, so everything you need if you stay in Phu My Hung!
We came from Saigon by night hotel, which was a disaster, so I can highly recommend this place in the region.

Traveler impressions of Ho Chi Minh City

HCMC is a busy, crowded, polluted city. There is not that much that redeems the city other than the Vietnam War exhibits and historical aspect.

As is true in most of Vietnam, pedestrians must dodge the never-ending motorcycles and cars as pedestrians are at the bottom of the food chain. You learn quickly how to dodge though and somehow it works. Actually the traffic might be one of the most amazing things about the city. Service in most restaurants and elsewhere is confusing. Service staff seems indifferent but actually, I think it is a cultural thing - they wait for your cue - so don't be shy, call out to your wait person when you need them. Vendors on the other hand are just the opposite. They pay attention to you....too much. I have traveled to many places and although I certainly didn't hate HCMC, it was not a favorite. If you are visiting Vietnam, you would do yourself a favor to get out of HCMC and go visit some of the smaller cities/villages in the middle and north of the country.

Most major attractions can be covered in a day. However if you want to explore in detail, then you will need many days.

City is safe. Most attractions can be reached on foot. Taxis are fairly cheap. However, certain parts of the city is dirty. There is a lot of pollution. In the dry hot weather of the city, need to drink a lot of water.

A very lively city but everything is expensive around ho chi minh city. I like ho chi minh city a lot but the locals here charge us foreigner more than what they sold to their own kind.

Chee,Malaysia

Great City,amiable people,good scenary, the airport is very small and crowded, some of the customs officials are corrupt

LUO,China

ho chi minh is one of the best district after hanoi in vietnam. some of the people are very welcoming but some are not.

but the people here is very hard working and they don't even seeking for money from people but they are selling something even a bundle of wet tissues to make a living. They dont rely on the government and very hard working people. the ho chi minh ciy is very large but should improve in term of entertainment such as theme park. but the market and the shopping mall is quite good.

The city is crazy busy, and the air quality is poor. So get a face mask to help yourself. Don't be afraid of walking/riding around town.

There is lots to do and lots to see. Prices are very reasonable especially if you know where to shop. Don't carry so much on you as you walk around. Don't act too much like a tourist (especially if you're a solo traveler), but more of an foreigner that knows their way around "because you live there". So do some research before heading out. Get a feel of your area through maps and landmarks before going out.

Stayed in District 1 in a fantastic location from here went on to the water park to entertain a 5 year old who absolutely loved the place and didn't want to leave.

Visited a spa and had pampering and had an extensive shopping experience where everything was on hand from cheap products to up-market goods. Also ticked Cu Chi Tunnels off the bucket list, this was a very inexpensive but well worthwhile experience.

Ho Chi Minh City is in perpetual motion. The ever-present flow of motorbikes on all the roads all the time is like blood in the veins pumping round without cease.

Sidewalk pedestrian traffic is un noticeable compared with the energy of the families on the motorbikes. I have not seen as much productive bustle in SEA as I have on the roads of HCMC. The attractions in the city are eclectic, Temples, Museums including the challenging imagery of the War Remnants Museum, Churches, public buildings and churches, Opera House etc. The City is 3 hours drive from the fertile and exciting Mekong Delta. Combining The City and the Delta is a 3 to 5 day opportunity that should be grabbed before the fast pace of progress makes it impossible.

Ho Chi Minh city is developing fast but it still has some communist charm. We surprisedly enjoyed our time in this city, walking around and visiting the plazas, Notre Dame, Ben Thanh market and walking along the smelly Saigon River.

Be aware of being charged an unfair amount just for the fact of begin foreigner. Still a lot of places where you will pay exactly what a rich local will pay but in many cases they will try hard to extract as much as they can from you.

There is a level of overprice that you have to accept to pay in countries like this, but sometimes you will observe that they go overboard. I paid US$40 for an entry to a flower festival arranged via a tour operator, when the entry fee was US$1.5. Be critical when you feel that this is happening to you.

Everything is cheap in Ho Chi Minh City for tourists coming from countries with strong currencies, it makes everything valuable.

But something to watch out for is everywhere, the sellers including taxi might anyhow quote you unreasonable price because everything seemed so cheap we might not know we are paying more than the usual rate/market price. Check out some standard pricing of the items including taxi rides so you wont get ripped off. There are lots street sellers, if u refuse to buy from them, they will give you a sullen face and scold u in Vietnamese. That is not appropriate. Overall, Vietnamese are very friendly to the tourists, especially Caucasians. Most viet just want to earn you money. Generally safe but once I almost got rob of my handphone on the street. Just be careful

I found Independence Palace - especially the presidential war room down in the basement bunker fascinating.

Being able to walk in the footsteps of history was amazing. To be able to see the gates where the Viet Cong tanks crashed through, stand on the balcony where the Viet Cong waved their flags and see where the president lived was fabulous.
Make the trip to Cu Chi to see the famous Viet Cong tunnels and it will really put the war into perspective for you. Also I highly recommend catching the hydrofoil from Ho Chi Minh City (District 4) for the 90 minute trip up the Mekong River to beachside Vung Tau.

Despite the quantity of motorbikes, is well organized within the population. We can survive easily with this amazing traffic.

Schultz,Brazil

It is a very boring place. All historical sites can be seen in one day and there is nothing more to do.

Compared to Thailand, there are almost no religious buildings for their architecture, shopping is pretty limited, no large supermarkets in the center, no night life, banks and money exchanges close early. It is, after all, a communist country. The best thing to do is to spend one day in the city and two days on a Mekong Delta trip. One day trip is not recommended as most of the time will be spent on the bus and a two day trip offers much more activities.

Ho Chi Minh City is fast becoming a vibrant metropolis with up-and-coming modern infrastructure like the rail transport system that is being constructed.

Malaysians, especially Muslim women, thoroughly enjoy the shopping for fine and delicate Muslim fashion apparels which cost a fraction of the price they would pay at home, such as hijab, dresses etc. Other things worth looking out for is fruits and nuts and some say coffee, but personally I found the Vietnamese brew to bit a tad too strong for my taste.

HCM is transitioning fast to a modern city. Do come early before all the charm is gone. The Times Square is a wonderful place to hangout with a large area for pedestrians to hangout surrounded by 2 busy roads.

My kids say they are playing a real life 'Crossy Road' overtime we need to cross the roads. Traffic is chaotic but it is part of the charm of the city. Make sure you are visible before proceeding to calm cross the road at a constant pace. The vehicles will notice you and adjust accordingly

prices are not expensive here. You can pamper yourself with massage, spa. spend time in travelling and know vietnamese war history.

Devina,India

Relatively safe but exercise caution. Not expensive but a bit touristy. Lots of things to do and many districts.

Taking a taxi (Mahlinh/Vinasun) during non peak hours is reasonable (but have a knowledge of how far you are going). Ben Thanh market is a favorite but take note there are fixed and non-fixed priced (bargainable) shops. Also quality of goods can differ from one place to the other (especially lacquer-ware).

Rollicking city that still retains all the character of Saigon (which is what most of the locals call it).

Make sure to fix prices everywhere they are not listed or prepared for a bad tempered exchange when it comes to delivery. Stay polite, cool, and keep your wits about you and you will enjoy Saigon, although the traffic is something else - much worse than Bangkok, similar to Jakarta.

More about Ho Chi Minh City

Sitting on the banks of the Saigon River, Ho Chi Minh City is the largest city in Vietnam. The city, also known as Saigon, is served by Tan Son Nhat Airport which is only around 15 minutes from central Ho Chi Minh City by taxi. Hotels near Tan Son Nhat Airport usually cater to business guests, but leisure travelers will find the accommodations equally as suitable.

There's a lot to see and do in Ho Chi Minh City. Owing to former French occupation, the city was once referred to as the Pearl of the East and architectural remnants of its colonial past remain. Most notable are the Notre Dame Cathedral and the Saigon Opera House, both located in the city center. A lot of Ho Chi Minh City's tourist attractions are historical, and many of them focus on the Vietnam War. Reunification Palace, commonly known as Independence Palace, is a restored building largely unchanged from when the North Vietnamese army crashed through the gates and took control of the city.

Nearby, at the Museum of Vietnamese History, a large collection of Vietnamese artifacts and antiques are on display. For the nature enthusiasts, the botanical gardens serve as a great way to escape the noise of the city and focusing on natural beauty. A popular way to find respite from Vietnam's heat is at Dam Sen Water Park, located right in the city center. Ho Chi Minh City is a place of historic and cultural significance, where every street reminds the traveler of all the events that have taken place in this city. A visit to Vietnam would hardly be complete without a stroll around Saigon.

Learn more about the landmarks and must-see destinations around Ho Chi Minh City as they’re expertly outlined on the interactive map on this page.